ARIZONA APACHE WARS

The following treatise is quite long (30 K). You may wish to use your browser to save it and review or print it out later. It is mostly about the Apache Wars as they affected Arizona.

When citizens of the United States first entered the Southwest, the Apaches were at first inclined to consider them as allies against their bitter enemies: the Mexicans. Even though in the 1830s there had already been clashes with American "scalp hunters" (e.g., James Johnson and James "Don Santiago" Kirker), those Americans were basically operating under authority of the Mexican flag, and so the Apaches considered such individuals as non-representative of the United States. Then, of course, came the Mexican War (1846-1848). Again, it appeared that the "Americans" could be Apache allies in their struggle against Mexico.

It wasn't until the 1850s that the United States finally realized that the Apaches were going to cause serious problems. Apaches continued to raid Mexico, and Mexico consequently put pressure on the U.S. to cease the raids. Settlers in New Mexico and Arizona, Mexican and American alike, became particularly insistent that Apache raiding stop. In Arizona by 1857 the United States finally decided to garrison a post just north of the Sonoran border (near modern-day Patagonia, Arizona)--Fort Buchanan. Because the outpost was isolated and difficult to maintain, it was basically ineffective in stopping raids and was abandoned at the outset of the Civil War. In fact, most U.S. Army regular troops left Arizona at the outset of the Civil War. It wasn't until the spring of 1862, when Major James H. Carleton and his California Volunteers entered Arizona, that troops were again employed against the Apaches. In that year a new fort was built at the junction of Aravaipa Creek and the San Pedro. By early 1865 this installation was known as Camp Grant. Fort Goodwin (near modern-day Bylas--renamed Fort Thomas in 1876) was established in 1864. Fort Verde (near modern-day Cottonwood) was also established in 1864. Fort McDowell (near modern-day Mesa) was established in 1865. These four posts (Grant, Goodwin, Verde, and McDowell) became the bases for operations against the hostile Indians of central Arizona. Grant and Goodwin were meant to control the Pinal Apaches. Camps Verde and McDowell were to control the Tonto Apaches and their Yavapai allies. Fort Bowie (near modern-day Willcox) was established in 1862 to control the Chiricahuas (who ranged along the southern Arizona and New Mexico borders); and Fort Apache was established in 1870 to control the White Mountain/Cibecue Apaches. The following treatise is mostly about the Apache Wars in central Arizona, and therefore does not contain much material about two of the most famous Apaches of all-time, Cochise and Victorio. However, some information about the Chiricahuas after the death of Cochise (1874) can be found here, as the Chiricahuas' reservation was terminated and many of the Chiricahua bands were sent to San Carlos in May 1876.

One of the earliest large engagements of U.S. troops against Apaches occurred in May 1863. In that month Lieutenant Thomas T. Tidball from Fort Lowell in Tucson, and a prominent Mexican citizen of Tucson, Jesús María Elías, led a force that killed fifty Apache warriors on Aravaipa Creek. Still another important battle took place in January 1864 between Yavapais and Apaches under a leader known as Paramucka. This was the infamous engagement at "Bloody Tanks." Some historians think it happened near what is now the town of Miami (near Globe), Arizona, while others feel it took place in Fish Creek Canyon in the Superstitions.

The leader, King Woolsey, of an American expedition of civilians out of Prescott, requested a meeting with Indian leaders. Six responded and came out the mountains to talk. After all were seated, Woolsey signalled his men to kill every Indian possible. So many Indians were killed that the stream where the engagement took place ran red with the blood of those who died--thus the name "Bloody Tanks." It was a horrifying precursor of what was to come.

One of the most horrifying battles took place at "Skull Cave" (located near what is now Canyon Lake). On 28 December 1872 seventy-six Indians (mostly Yavapai) were killed in a cave. Many of the dead were women and children. Captain John G. Bourke was at the battle and stated, "Never have I seen such a hellish spot as was the narrow little space in which the hostile Indians were now crowded." Later, in March 1873, another horrific battle took place at Turret Peak (near modern-day Cordes Junction). Approximately 50 Yavapai Indians were killed there. By April 1853 resistance was ended. On 6 April 1873, the Yavapai Chalipun surrendered with 2300 of his people at Fort Verde. Captian Bourke wrote the following about this surrender: "Crook took Chalipun by the hand, and told him . . . it was no use to talk about who began this war; there were bad men among all peoples; there were bad Mexicans, as there were bad Americans and bad Apaches; our duty was to end wars and establish peace, and not to talk about what was past and gone. The Apaches must make this peace not for a day or a week, but for all time . . ." A reservation was set apart for Chalipun's people near Fort Verde.

By the spring of 1873 most Apaches and Yavapais terminated their resistance and began settling down on their reservations. However, although most Apaches and Yavapais were peaceful, occasional disturbances still occurred. These had complex causes: bad rations, military and civil disagreements over administration, etc. A severe crisis finally developed in the winter of 1873- 1874.

Four renegades were still causing troubles on the reservation: Delshay, Chuntz, Cochinay, and Chan-deisi. Crook finally decided to go after them. In the spring of 1874 he began his campaign, and by July 1874 the renegades had all given up or were killed. The heads of seven outlaws were cut off and displayed on the parade ground at San Carlos. It was at this time that a young man arrived at San Carlos to become agent: John Clum. General Crook was then transferred to the Dakota Territory to deal with the Sioux, Arapaho, and Cheyenne (March 1875).

Clum was quite sympathetic toward the Apaches. He was able to organize an Apache police force, headed by four important leaders: Eskinospas, Goodah-Goodah, "Sneezer," and Talkalai. (NOTE: Many of their descendants remain at San Carlos today.) The police force soon developed into an organization that was important in the subsequent Victorio and Geronimo campaigns. Because of Clum's great success, the federal government decided to concentrate ALL Apaches in Arizona at San Carlos. The ultimate result of this policy was utter catastrophe.

In February 1875 the Fort Verde Reservation was terminated. All 1500 Tontos and Yavapais there were marched in the dead of winter over the Mogollon Rim to the site of what was later to be called Globe. Clum met them there and helped them in their journey to San Carlos. One old man had carried his invalid wife in a basket on his back the entire distance. At least 25 children had been born on the trail. (At the turn of the century many of the Yavapais who were at San Carlos migrated back to their ancestral lands, where they are still located today: Camp Verde Reservation, Ft. McDowell Reservation, and the Yavapai Reservation near Prescott.)

Then, in the summer of 1875 eight hundred Apaches were forced from Fort Apache to the San Carlos Reservation (to what is now Bylas). Over the next few years 800 more were transferred there. However, 600 refused to move, and the government finally let them stay at Fort Apache. Eventually, most of these Apaches returned to Fort Apache (to become the current White Mountain Apaches), but some remained at Bylas. They live there to this day.

In May 1876 Clum then was ordered to transfer the wild Chiricahuas to San Carlos. Their reservation was also terminated. However, Clum was able to transfer only 325. They settled at what is now Geronimo (near Fort Thomas). However, 140 Chiricahuas fled to their friends the Mimbreño Apaches on their reservation at Warm Springs, New Mexico. Another 400 escaped from all control whatsoever. Among these 400 was the famous Bedonkohe medicine man Geronimo (born near what is now Clifton, Arizona).